Melanoma is a serious kind of skin cancer. It can spread quickly if not caught early. The good news is that doctors have ways to treat it. This type of cancer starts in special cells called melanocytes responsible for the color of the skin.
Knowing about melanoma is important, and early detection of melanoma helps doctors treat it successfully. The more you know about this condition, the better you can take care of your skin. Let’s discuss different treatment options available for melanoma.
Understanding Melanoma
Melanoma starts in the melanocytes, the skin cells that give us our color.
Unlike other types of skin cancer, melanoma can grow and spread quickly. It can affect other body parts, like the lymph nodes, liver, or lungs. This makes it more dangerous and harder to treat if not caught early.
It is important to know the signs, such as new or changing moles. This way, you can see a doctor for melanoma treatment right away.
Early-Stage Melanoma Treatments
At early stages, melanoma skin cancer treatment options include:
Surgery
For early-stage melanoma, doctors remove the tumor with surgery. The surgeon removes the cancerous cell. They also remove a bit of the normal skin around it. This ensures all the cancer cells are gone. Sometimes, this is all that is needed.
The surgery is usually quick, and patients can go home the same day.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
Your doctor will assess if the melanoma has spread. They may do a sentinel lymph node biopsy if that is the case. This procedure checks the nearest lymph nodes to see if the cancer has moved there.
The surgeon will inject a small amount of dye near the tumor. This helps the doctor find the sentinel lymph node.
The surgeon will check for cancer cells in these nodes. If they find some, further melanoma treatment will be needed to stop the spread.
Advanced-Stage Melanoma Treatments
For more advanced stages, treatment for melanoma skin cancer includes:
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy uses your own immune system to fight cancer. It will help the body find and destroy melanoma cells.
This treatment can be effective. Doctors can utilize this treatment for advanced melanoma.
It works by boosting the body’s natural defenses.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy focuses on specific parts of cancer cells. These parts make the cancer cells grow. This therapy will target mutations in the BRAF gene. This gene is common in melanoma.
These drugs can shrink the tumors and slow down the disease. They work best in patients whose cancer cells have specific genetic changes.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.
Surgeons use radiation for patients not qualified for surgery. They use this for cases that have spread to other body parts.
Radiation can help shrink tumors and relieve symptoms like pain.
Chemotherapy
Doctors might use chemotherapy to fight melanoma. This is only when other treatments have not worked well enough. This treatment uses chemicals to fight the cancer cells all over the body.
Chemo can make you feel a little ill. This is why doctors try other treatments first to keep you feeling your best.
How Your Skin Surgeon Can Help
Your skin doctor is an expert in treating skin conditions, including melanoma. They can help you choose the best treatment by:
Examining Your Melanoma
The dermatologist will examine the size, depth, and location of your melanoma to determine its severity.
Checking for Spread
They might do tests like a sentinel lymph node biopsy to see if the cancer has spread to other parts of your body.
Discussing Options
Your doctor will explain the different treatment options, helping you understand the benefits and risks of each one.
Personalizing Treatment
Your doctor will recommend the best treatment plan for you based on your specific situation. This might include combining different treatments to achieve the best results.
Monitoring Progress
After starting treatment, your doctor will check your progress and make any needed changes.
They will also monitor for any side effects and help manage them. By working closely with your skin doctor, you can get the best care possible to beat melanoma.
Keeping Your Skin Healthy
Regular check-ups and being aware of changes in your skin can help catch melanoma early. To lower your risk, use sunscreen, wear protective clothing, and avoid too much sun exposure.
Melanoma Specialist in Coral Gables, FL
At Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center, our board-certified dermatologist, Dr. T.J. Giuffrida, MD, is highly trained in diagnosing and treating any kind of skin problem, including skin cancer. He is a board-certified and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon in Miami, which is a the most effective surgery for melanoma. Through early detection of melanoma and surgical and nonsurgical procedures, he not only effectively addresses your melanoma but also educates you on its warning signs and preventions.
To set up a consultation with our board-certified dermatologist, call us today at (305) 461-2000 or use our appointment request form.
Let us help you fight melanoma with the best treatments. We look forward to serving you!
